Spooling machine



` E. G. cRooKs SPOOLING MACHINE July 3, 1934.

Filed March 22, 1933 WIT/V555 29 thread smoothly on the latter.

30 tion is in progress.

Patented `Iuly 3, 1934 SPOOLING MACHINE Earl G. Crooks, Elmira,

Chemung Engineering Corporation,

N. Y., assgnor to Elmira,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 22,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to spooling machines used in the textile industry for winding thread or yarn on spools.

Such machines usually comprise horizontal rails supporting a plurality of pairs of transversely extending fingers which project oppositely from the rails and between which the spools are disposed while the thread is being wound upon them. Beneath the fingers on each side 0 of the machine is located a horizontally extending drive shaft on which at intervals are mounted driving rolls, usually faced with cork, with which the spools are maintained in frictional driving engagement so that rotation of the driving rolls causes corresponding rotation of the spools to wind the thread thereon as it is received from a traversing mechanism located on each side of the machine for reciprocation parallel to the axes of the spools so as to lay the The spools are either mounted on removable spindles whose ends project beyond the end faces of the spools or are provided with permanent trunnions, and the ends of the spindles or the trunnions, as the case may be, are received in vertical slots formed in the :lingers or bear against vertical ribs or guides carried thereby with a View to maintaining the spools in proper relation with their r.,- spective driving rolls while the winding opera- Although the various elements to which I have just referred naturally vary in structural details in different types and/ or makes of spooling machines, they are nevertheless generally found therein in one form or another, vand therefore as machines of the character in question are Well understood by those familiar with the art, further or more specific reference thereto would be superuous.

. Such machines, while satisfactory for winding certain kinds of thread and yarn, are not entirely so for winding silk and/or rayon thread as they cause splitting and breakage thereof, especially with threads of the heavier weights. This is due in large part to the fact that the 4 pullv of the` thread against the spool as it passes thereto from the traversing mechanism is eX- erted in a direction which tends to cause the trunnions or spindles of the spool to ride up in the vertical guides or slots carried by the iingers, the front walls of which are necessarily located close to the axis of revolution of the spool, with resulting decrease in the frictional engagement between the body of thread thereon and the driving roll and consequent irregularity in the drive transmitted to the spool. Various 1933, Serial No. 662,048

expedients have been resorted to in attempts to overcome this difficulty, the one most commonly employed being some form of means for Weighting the spool with a View to insuring constant frictional engagement between the body of thread thereon and the driving roll, but as far as I am aware none of them has been entirely satisfactory under practical operating conditions.

The present invention is also directed to the solution of this problem, its primary object being the provision of novel means for insuring constant and adequate driving engagement between the spools and their respective driving rolls irrespective of the amount of thread which has been wound on the former or of the weight thereof whereby the aforesaid breaking and splitting of the thread, particularly heavy silk and/or rayon, incident to the use of the machines heretofore commonly employed for spooling it are materially lessened if not entirely obviated.

A further object of the invention is to avoid the necessity of weighting the spools in an effort to insure such constant frictional driving engagement.

A still further object is the provision of means suitable for the attainment of the aforesaid objects of a character and construction such that they may be readily substituted for the spool fingers ordinarily employed without the necessity of material structural changes in the spooling machine itself; which are simple, unlikely to get out of order or become damaged under normal conditions of operation, which may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price, and which can be utilized by the ordinary spooling machine operator with as great facility as the spool holding means heretofore in general use to which he has become accustomed.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of design, construction and arrangement comprehended by my invention are hereinafter more particularly pointed out Vor will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying Adrawing in operative combination and association with a spooling machine of the type to which I have hereinbefore referred.

In the said drawing in which I have shown only so much of the said machine as is requisite for adequate comprehension of the present invention, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion thereof with the improvements of my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1'v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end View of certain of the parts shown in the preceding figures, and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the same parts after a plurality of layers of thread have been wound on the spool. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partially in section, of two of the guide rolls and adjacent parts. Like characters of referencev are used to designate the same elements in the several figures.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that the spooling machine fragmentarily shown therein comprises horizontally extending rails 1, 1 suitably supported at their extremities and in turn supporting the spool retaining fingers, the spool driving mechanism and the traversing mechanism by which the thread is laid evenly on the spools. Customarily a series of spools are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation on each side of the rails and driving and traversing mechanisms provided for each series, but for convenience of illustration I have shown but one spool S and such portions of the driving and traversing mechanisms as are required for its individual operation.

The driving mechanism includes in the usual way a shaft 3 disposed parallel to, below and somewhat in advance of the rails when Viewed from the front of the machine as in Fig. 1. This shaft is journaled in brackets 4 secured to the rails at intervals by clips generally designated as 5, collars 6 on the shaft restraining it from longitudinal movement and, when the machine is in operation, is driven by suitable means not shown. Mounted at intervals on the shaft are driving rolls 7 which are customarily provided with a facing 8 of cork or other material having a high frictional coefficient and are of suitable diameter to engage the generally superjacent spools when the latter are in winding position.

The traversing mechanism consists essentially of a traverse bar l0 extending in front of the upper part of the driving rolls longitudinally of the machine and suitable mechanism (not shown)` for reciprocating it, the bar being supported on rolls 11 preferably carried by certain of the spool retaining fingers. t intervals in alignment with the several spools the bar is provided with notched guides 12 through which the thread is led from the source of supply.

As the various parts to which reference has just been made are of usual construction and commonly found in one form or another in most typesV of spooling machines, they are therefore well understood by those familiar with the art and further reference thereto is unnecessary.

When in winding position, each spool S is disposed between a pair of fingers 20, 21 which extend transversely of the machine above the rails l, l and are supported therefrom. These fingers are preferably of similar construction save that one of them, for example, the finger 21, may be provided with a bracket for supporting the traverse bar roll 1l as hereinafter described. Each may therefore preferably comprise a pair of similar members a, b formed from sheet metal, each member being outwardly offset from its general plane adjacent its midpoint so that when assembled and welded or riveted together they define an opening 22 for the passage of a bolt 23 which extends through a plate 24 overlying the members and is threaded into another plate 25 beneath the rails which when the bolt is set up, is drawn up against the latter to bind the ngers tightly thereto. To insure snug seating of the fingers on the rails and to negative any tendency to tilt from a horizontal position, the lower edges of the center portions of the members forming the fingers are preferably shaped in conformity with the rails. Thus, by loosening the bolts 23, the fingers can be readily adjusted longitudinally of the rails or entirely removed, while when the bolts are set up, the fingers are held rigidly in whatever position of adjustment they may have been placed. It will be appreciated, however, that while I prefer to make the fingers of two pieces of sheet metal in the manner described as when so constructed they are light, strong, and relatively inexpensive, they may, if preferred, be formed as integral castings or by drop forging, or in any other suitable way.

Either finger or both, if preferred, may be provided with a forwardly and downwardly directed hook-like bracket 26 carrying a pair of small lugs 27 extending at right angles to its general plane which are drilled to receive the ends of a shaft 28 on which the traverse bar support roll 1l is journaled, preferably on anti-friction bearings. When the fingers comprise two sheet metal members suitably secured together as shown, the bracket is conveniently formed integrally with one of them when they are stamped out, and omitted from the other, the lugs 27 being turned out to proper position either before or after the members are united, or if preferred both members may be provided with brackets if a very strong and rigid construction is desired. This provision of traverse bar roll supporting means on the fingers affords a convenient way of supporting the rolls but if preferred the brackets may be omitted from the fingers and the rolls supported in some other way, for example, by brackets extending from the body of the machine. Moreover, while I prefer to provide every other finger with a roll 11 and supporting bracket as in this way a very adequate support is given to the traverse bar, the rolls may be disposed at greater longitudinal intervals, thus correspondingly reducing the number of fingers provided with brackets and rolls in any given installation.

Adjacent the outer end of each finger is disposed a pair of spool guide rolls 30 lying on opposite sides of the finger with their bases adjacent thereto, each roll being preferably of generally frusto-conical form with its smaller end approximating a cylinder as best shown in Fig. 5. These rolls are preferably mounted for rotation on antifriction bearings so they can rotate very freely, and to this end each roll may be bored out for the reception of a pair of oppositely disposed cones 32 and also internally grooved as at 33 so as to provide with the cones a race for balls 34, the cones being mounted on a shaft 35 extending entirely through the finger and thus serving to similarly support the cones for the other roll 30 on the opposite sides thereof. For holding the rolls in offset relation to the finger, a spacing collar 36 is disposed about the shaft and after the parts are assembled the ends of the latter are headed over so as to maintain them in proper relation.

siderably nearer the center of the finger than the adjacent roll 30. The function of these ribs is to assist in properly positioning the spool in winding position, and to this end the ribs 'project far enough from the faces of the ngers to overlap the ends of the spool spindle or trunnions.

To place the machine in condition for operation, the several pairs of fingers are so adjusted on the rails 1, 1 that they will lie in symmetrical relation with the driving rolls 7, the fingers of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to fully clear the ends of the spool spindle or trunnions when disposed between them but not enough to bring the guide ribs 40 out of overlapping relation therewith. An empty spool is now dropped between each pair of fingers and as it descends the guide ribs 40 serve to guide the spool spindle or trunnions downwardly and forwardly and thus, without any particular attention on the part of the operator, direct the spool toward winding position in which its barrel rests on the subjacent driving roll and its flanges f contact the guide rolls on the adjacent fingers substantially as shown in Fig. 3. It will be obvious that were the guide ribs omitted, a careless operator might insert the spool with its axis in rear of a vertical plane through the axis of the drive roll, in which case the spool would slide rearwardly down the latter instead of forwardly into proper winding position. The driving roll is now set in motion and, by engagement with the body of the spool, causes the latter to rotate in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to draw the thread I from the traversing mechanism and Wind it upon the spool in the usual way. During this operation a certain amount of force is required to pull the thread over the traversing mechanism from the source of supply and the 4reaction of this force on the spool tends to pull the latter downwardly and forwardly, thus in'effect wedging it between the drive roll and the guide rolls 30 and maintaining a constant, or substantially constant, frictional engagement with the former. Since the guide rolls rotate very freely and there is hardly more than a line contact between them and the spool flanges, substantially no power is absorbed between the spool and these rolls while obviously the greater the weight of the thread and consequently the heavier the pull required to draw it onto the spool, the greater is the force with which the spool, or rather the body of thread thereon, is caused to contact the driving roll. And these conditions likewise obtain as the thickness of the body of thread on the spool is progressively increased so that throughout the winding operation a constant and even frictionalengagement is maintained with the driving roll and slipping or jumping of the spool prevented with resultant negation of thread splitting and breakage. It will be observed that during the winding operation the sole support of the spool is afforded by the two guide rolls 30 and the driving roll, the ends of the spool spindle or its trunnions being entirely out of contact with the adjacent fingers and the guide ribs 40, the generally conical formation of the guide rolls serving to center the spool properly with relation to the fingers and preventing it from climbing laterally in either direction. After the winding operation is finished, the filled spool is readily removed and replaced with another empty one.

It will be apparent that by merely removing the ordinary iingers having slots or vertical guides designed for cooperation with the spindles or trunnions of the spools and replacing them vvith fingers of the character Yof those herein described, the improvements of my invention may be readily incorporated in spooling machines of almost any type heretofore in general use and Jthe advantages of the invention thus obtained at comparatively low cost. As splitting and breakage of rayon and silk threads, `particularly of the heavier varieties now coming into vogue,'have been a cause of much trouble, annoyance and expense in the industry, and has never heretofore been satisfactorily overcome, so far as-I am aware, I consider my invention, though of simple character, marks a distinct contribution to and step forward in the art, and while it is of especial ad*- vantage when used with spools made wholly of glass, it may be employed with equal facility with almost any of the other types of spools utilized in the textile and like industries.

Although I have herein described one form of f my invention with considerable particularity, I do not thereby desire or intend to limit' or'conline myself specifically thereto as the design, construction and arrangement of the various parts are capable of modification and variation in many particulars, lwhile the principles of the'invention may be utilized in connection with many types of spooling machines other than those to'which I 'have chosen to refer, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as dened in the apfpended claims. Y' v Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. The combination with a spooling machine a spool when seated on the roll to thereby hold the spool in predetermined relation withthe' roll'. 2. The combination with a spooling machine having a spool driving roll, of spool retaining fingers disposed adjacent opposite ends of the roll and means carried by each linger at a point a.-

above and in advance of the axis Yof the driving roll considered in its direction of rotation adapted for engagement by a spool when seated on the roll.

3. The combination with a spooling machine having a spool' driving roll, of a pair -of fingers disposed `adjacent opposite ends of the roll and a guide roll rotatably mounted on each finger at a point above and in advance of the axis of the driving roll considered in its direction of rotation for engagement by a spool when seated on the driving roll.

4. The combination with a spooling machine having a spool driving roll, of a pair of fingers disposed adjacent opposite ends of the roll above the plane of its axis, a guide roll rotatably mounted on each finger on the side thereof adjacent the opposite finger and above the plane of the axis of the driving roll for engagement by a spool when seated on the driving roll, said guide rolls and driving roll forming the sole means for maintaining the spool in said position.

5. A spooling machine comprising in combination a driving roll, a pair of lingers disposed adjacent opposite ends of the roll, means for supporting the fingers, a generally conical guide roll rotatably mounted on each linger on the side thereof adjacent the opposite nger and at a point above and in advance of the axis of the driving roll considered in its direction of rotalim l 45. from said supporting means.

tion, and a spool seated onthe driving roll and in engagement with both of said guide rolls.

v 6. The combination with'a spooling machine having a driving roll, of a pair of ngers disposed adjacent opposite endsof the roll, means for supporting the fingers, a spool seated on the driving roll, a guide roll rotatably mounted on each nger at a point above and in advance of the axis of the driving roll considered in its direction ofrotation, said guide rolls respectively Aengaging the spool, and means carried by the ngers for guiding the spool toward the guide rolls While it is being seated on the driving roll.

7. In a spooling machine, the combination of a driving roll, traversing mechanism disposed adjacent said roll comprising a traverse bar, ngers disposed adjacent opposite ends of the roll, means for supporting the ngers invxed position, guide rolls rotatably mounted on the ngers for engagement with a spool when seated fon thedriving roll, and supporting means for the traverse bar carried by one of the ngers.

8. In a spooling machine, the combination of a driving roll, traversing mechanism disposed ad- 2'5' jacent said roll comprising a traverse bar, fingers disposed adjacent opposite ends of the roll, means vfor supporting the fingers in xed position, guide rolls rotatably mounted onthe fingers. for engagement with a spool when seated on the driv- 'said r'oll adjacent an end of the finger.

10. A spool retaining iinger adapted for operative attachment to a spooling machine, comprising spool supporting means adjacent an end of the Afinger adapted to engage the circumferential edge of the flange of a spool, and spool guiding means disposed on the nger and spaced 11. A spool retaining nger adapted for operative attachment to a spooling machine, comprising spool supporting means adjacent an end "50j kof the finger adapted to engage the circumferential edge of the flange of a spool, and a guide rib disposed on the face of the finger spaced 'Tco v from said means and curved in the direction of the latter.

12. A spool retaining iinger for a spooling machine comprising a pair of sheet metal members rigidly secured together, one of said members being extended to form a bracket, a roll mounted adjacent the end of said bracket, and a guide roll mounted on the nger with its axis normal to the axis of the roll on the bracket.

13. In a spooling machine, the combination of a horizontal driving roll, a pair of ngers disposed adjacent opposite ends of said roll, means for supporting the ngers, a spool between the ngers, and guide rolls carried by the ngers with their axes disposed above the plane of the axis of the driving roll operative by engagement with said spool to restrain the latter from end- Wise movement and cause it to hug the driving roll While thread is being Wound upon it.

14. In a spooling machine, the combination of a horizontal driving roll, a pair of ngers disposed adjacent opposite ends of said roll, means for supporting the ngers in xed positionfa spool between the lingers, ak generally conical guide roll carried by each nger with its Smaller end directed toward the opposite finger, the axes of said rolls being above the axis of the driving roll, said guide rolls by engagement with the spool serving to hold it out of contact with the ngers and cause it to hug the driving roll While thread is being Wound upon the spool.

15. Ina spooling machine, the combination of a horizontal driving roll, a pair of ngers supported adjacent opposite ends of said roll, a flanged spool between the ngers, and means carried by the lingers above the plane of the axis of the driving roll operative by engagement With the spool flanges to restrain the spool from endwise movement and cause it to hug the driving roll While the thread is being progressively 115 Wound upon it.

16. In a spooling machine, the combination of a horizontal driving roll, a pair of fingers supported adjacent opposite ends of said roll, a spool between the fingers, and means carried by 120 the fingers above and in front of the axis of the driving roll considered in its direction of rotation operative by engagement With the spool to restrain the latter from endwise movement and cause it to hug the driving roll while the thread 125 is being progressively wound upon it.

EARL G. CROOKS. 

